Media production system with dynamic modification of multiple media items

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, an example method includes (i) accessing a first set of ordered content items and a second set of active/inactive status attributes; (ii) identifying a subset of the first set based on each content item of the subset corresponding to an active status attribute in the second set; (iii) using the content items of the identified subset to generate a plurality of media items, each generated media item including the content items of the identified subset and being a respective type of media item; (iv) determining that a particular content item of the first set satisfies a condition, wherein the particular content item corresponds to a particular active/inactive status attribute of the second set; (v) based on the determination, modifying the particular active/inactive status attribute; and (vi) after modifying the particular active/inactive status attribute, repeating the identifying and using acts, thereby causing modification of the generated media items.

USAGE AND TERMINOLOGY

In this disclosure, unless otherwise specified and/or unless theparticular context clearly dictates otherwise, the terms “a” or “an”mean at least one, and the term “the” means the at least one.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, an example method is disclosed. The method includes (i)accessing, by a computing system, a first set of content items and asecond set of active/inactive status attributes, wherein each contentitem of the first set corresponds to a respective active/inactive statusattribute of the second set; (ii) identifying, by the computing system,a subset of the first set based on each content item of the subsetcorresponding to an active status attribute in the second set; (iii)using, by the computing system, the content items of the identifiedsubset to generate a plurality of media items, wherein each generatedmedia item of the plurality of media items both (a) includes the contentitems of the identified subset and (b) is a respective one of aplurality of types of media items; (iv) making, by the computing system,a determination that either a particular content item of the first setor data associated with the particular content item satisfies eachcondition in a condition set, wherein the particular content itemcorresponds to a particular active/inactive status attribute of thesecond set; (v) based, at least in part, on the determination, modifyingthe particular active/inactive status attribute; and (vi) aftermodifying the particular active/inactive status attribute, repeating, bythe computing system, the identifying and using steps, thereby causingmodification of the generated plurality of media items.

In another aspect, an example non-transitory computer-readable medium isdisclosed. The computer-readable medium has stored thereon programinstructions that upon execution by a processor, cause performance of aset of acts including (i) accessing, by a computing system, a first setof content items and a second set of active/inactive status attributes,wherein each content item of the first set corresponds to a respectiveactive/inactive status attribute of the second set; (ii) identifying, bythe computing system, a subset of the first set based on each contentitem of the subset corresponding to an active status attribute in thesecond set; (iii) using, by the computing system, the content items ofthe identified subset to generate a plurality of media items, whereineach generated media item of the plurality of media items both (a)includes the content items of the identified subset and (b) is arespective one of a plurality of types of media items; (iv) making, bythe computing system, a determination that either a particular contentitem of the first set or data associated with the particular contentitem satisfies each condition in a condition set, wherein the particularcontent item corresponds to a particular active/inactive statusattribute of the second set; (v) based, at least in part, on thedetermination, modifying the particular active/inactive statusattribute; and (vi) after modifying the particular active/inactivestatus attribute, repeating, by the computing system, the identifyingand using steps, thereby causing modification of the generated pluralityof media items.

In another aspect, an example computing system is disclosed. Thecomputing system is configured for performing a set of acts including(i) accessing, by the computing system, a first set of content items anda second set of active/inactive status attributes, wherein each contentitem of the first set corresponds to a respective active/inactive statusattribute of the second set; (ii) identifying, by the computing system,a subset of the first set based on each content item of the subsetcorresponding to an active status attribute in the second set; (iii)using, by the computing system, the content items of the identifiedsubset to generate a plurality of media items, wherein each generatedmedia item of the plurality of media items both (a) includes the contentitems of the identified subset and (b) is a respective one of aplurality of types of media items; (iv) making, by the computing system,a determination that either a particular content item of the first setor data associated with the particular content item satisfies eachcondition in a condition set, wherein the particular content itemcorresponds to a particular active/inactive status attribute of thesecond set; (v) based, at least in part, on the determination, modifyingthe particular active/inactive status attribute; and (vi) aftermodifying the particular active/inactive status attribute, repeating, bythe computing system, the identifying and using steps, thereby causingmodification of the generated plurality of media items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example computing device.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example media system.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of an example video productionsystem.

FIG. 4A is a simplified diagram of an example frame of video content,without content overlaid thereon.

FIG. 4B is a simplified diagram of an example frame of video content,with content overlaid thereon.

FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram of an example program schedule.

FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of example content data.

FIG. 7A is a simplified diagram of an example frame of video content,including content items of the example content data that correspond toactive identifiers.

FIG. 7B is a simplified diagram of an example web page, includingcontent items of the example content data that correspond to activeidentifiers.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an example method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. Overview

A media system can use various data to generate various types of mediacontent. For instance, the media system can include a video-productionsystem (VPS) that can use data to generate video content that can serveas or be part of a video program (e.g., a news program). The VPS canthen transmit the video content to a video-broadcast system (VBS), whichin turn can transmit the video content to an end-user device forpresentation of the video content to an end-user. The media system canfurther include a web server that can use the data to generate webcontent. The web server can then provide the generated web content tothe end-user device for presentation of the web content to the end-user.

The VPS can include various components to facilitate generating videocontent. For example, the VPS can include a video source, a digitalvideo-effect (DVE) system, a scheduling system, and a sequencing system.The video source can generate video content, and can transmit the videocontent to the DVE system. The DVE system can use the video content anda DVE template to execute a DVE, which can cause the DVE system togenerate new video content that is a modified version of the receivedvideo content. For example, the generated video content can include thereceived video content with local weather content overlaid thereon.

The scheduling system can create a program schedule, perhaps based oninput received from a user (e.g., a producer or technical director) viaa user interface. The sequencing system can process records in theprogram schedule, and based on the processed records, can control one ormore components of the VPS, such as the video source and the DVE system,to facilitate generating video content.

In one example, the VPS can also include an election system and acharacter generator. The election system can obtain election data, andthe character generator can then use the election data to generate videocontent that includes the election data (e.g., the generated videocontent can include a graphical depiction of the information representedby the election data, such as characters and/or graphics that depictelection tallies, ongoing races, results, projected outcomes, etc.).Further, the character generator can transmit the video content to theDVE system. The DVE system can receive the video content and can executea DVE, which causes the DVE system to generate video content thatincludes the received video content and thus, that also includes theelection data. The generated video content can serve as or be part of avideo program. Thus, in this way, the VPS can integrate election datainto a video program.

The video content generated by the character generator can take variousforms. In some examples, the generated video content can present anumber of content items in a sequential order. For instance, theelection data can include a number of content items arrangedsequentially in a certain file format (e.g., an XML file), and thecharacter generator can generate the video content presenting thecontent items in their sequential order.

The election system can also provide the election data to a web server,and the web server can then use the election data to generate variousweb content that includes the election data. For instance, the webserver can generate web pages that include graphical depictions of theinformation represented by the election data. The end-user device canthen access the generated web pages via a web browser.

In some instances, it can be desirable to dynamically modify the mediacontent generated by the VPS and the web server. In particular, it canbe desirable to modify the generated video content during production ofthe video program while concurrently modifying the generated webcontent. For example, during an election, if a race becomessignificantly lopsided such that viewer interest declines, it may bedesirable to modify the generated media content such that election data(e.g., vote counts, candidate names, etc.) associated with thatparticular race is removed from both the video program and the web page.Moreover, if election data that is currently excluded from the videoprogram and the web page is associated with a race that becomessignificantly close such that viewer interest increases, it may bedesirable to modify the generated video content and web content toinclude the election data.

One way to modify the generated video content is to modify the electiondata accessed by the character generator. For example, one or morecontent items may be added to or removed from the data that is accessedby the character generator. However, in some systems, adding or removinga content item to or from the data accessed by the character generatorcan cause the character generator to restart generation of the videocontent from the beginning of the sequence of content items. This can beproblematic if such a modification is made during production of thevideo program, as it may result in content items sequentially arrangednear the end of the election data being skipped and effectively excludedfrom the generated video content.

Similarly, one way to modify the generated web content is to modify theelection data that is provided to the web server, such as by adding orremoving one or more content items to or from the provided electiondata. However, manipulating the election data for each computing systemconfigured to receive the data (e.g., the character generator and theweb server) can become cumbersome, particularly when the election datais being provided to a large quantity of systems. Such a process couldresult in significant delay between changes made to different mediaitems so that a first media item (e.g., video content including theelection data) could include data that is inconsistent with a secondmedia item (e.g., web content including the election data).

The present disclosure provides a media system that helps address theseissues. In one aspect, the same election data can be provided to aplurality of media-generating computing systems, such as the charactergenerator and the web server, and the election data can further includea set of active/inactive status attributes each corresponding to arespective content item. The character generator can include or excludeeach content item from any generated video content based on the contentitem's corresponding active/inactive status attribute. Similarly, theweb server can include or exclude each content item from any generatedweb content based on the content item's corresponding active/inactivestatus attribute.

The election system can use various data associated with the election todetermine whether to modify a particular active/inactive statusattribute. Based at least in part on the determination, while videocontent and web content is being generated, the election system canmodify the particular active/inactive status attribute, therebymodifying the generated video content and web content. As a result, oneor more content items can be concurrently added or removed from thegenerated video content and web content without adding or removingcontent items from the election data and without having separateelection data accessed by the character generator and the web server.

The present disclosure provides a variety of advantageous outcomes. Forinstance, using the same election data to generate multiple differenttypes of media items can allow the different media items to beconcurrently modified, thereby reducing or eliminating inconsistenciesbetween the different media items. Further, in instances where thecharacter generator and/or associated DVE systems generate video contentthat includes a repeating sequence of the election data, a given contentitem can be added and/or removed from the sequence without restartingthe generation of video content from the beginning of the sequence ofcontent items, because the content item can be included or excluded bymerely altering the content item's corresponding status attribute ratherthan adding or removing the content item to or from the election data.

II. Example Architecture

A. Computing Device

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example computing device 100.The computing device can be configured to perform and/or can perform oneor more acts and/or functions, such as those described in thisdisclosure. The computing device 100 can include various components,such as a processor 102, a data storage unit 104, a communicationinterface 106, and/or a user interface 108. Each of these components canbe connected to each other via a connection mechanism 110.

In this disclosure, the term “connection mechanism” means a mechanismthat facilitates communication between two or more components, devices,systems, or other entities. A connection mechanism can be a relativelysimple mechanism, such as a cable or system bus, or a relatively complexmechanism, such as a packet-based communication network (e.g., theInternet). In some instances, a connection mechanism can include anon-tangible medium (e.g., in the case where the connection iswireless).

The processor 102 can include a general-purpose processor (e.g., amicroprocessor) and/or a special-purpose processor (e.g., a digitalsignal processor (DSP)). The processor 102 can execute programinstructions contained in the data storage unit 104 as discussed below.

The data storage unit 104 can include one or more volatile,non-volatile, removable, and/or non-removable storage components, suchas magnetic, optical, and/or flash storage, and/or can be integrated inwhole or in part with the processor 102. Further, the data storage unit104 can take the form of a non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium, having stored thereon program instructions (e.g., compiled ornon-compiled program logic and/or machine code) that, upon execution bythe processor 102, cause the computing device 100 to perform one or moreacts and/or functions, such as those described in this disclosure. Theseprogram instructions can define and/or be part of a discrete softwareapplication. In some instances, the computing device 100 can executeprogram instructions in response to receiving an input, such as from thecommunication interface 106 and/or the user interface 108. The datastorage unit 104 can also store other types of data, such as those typesdescribed in this disclosure.

The communication interface 106 can allow the computing device 100 toconnect with and/or communicate with another other entity according toone or more protocols. In one example, the communication interface 106can be a wired interface, such as an Ethernet interface or ahigh-definition serial-digital-interface (HD-SDI). In another example,the communication interface 106 can be a wireless interface, such as acellular or WI-FI interface. In this disclosure, a connection can be adirect connection or an indirect connection, the latter being aconnection that passes through and/or traverses one or more entities,such as a router, switcher, or other network device. Likewise, in thisdisclosure, a transmission can be a direct transmission or an indirecttransmission.

The user interface 108 can include hardware and/or software componentsthat facilitate interaction between the computing device 100 and a userof the computing device 100, if applicable. As such, the user interface108 can include input components such as a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse,a touch-sensitive panel, a microphone, and/or a camera, and/or outputcomponents such as a display device (which, for example, can be combinedwith a touch-sensitive panel), a sound speaker, and/or a haptic feedbacksystem.

The computing device 100 can take various forms, such as a workstationterminal, a desktop computer, a laptop, a tablet, a mobile phone, aset-top box, and/or a television.

B. Media System

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example media system 200. Themedia system 200 can perform various acts and/or functions related tomedia content, and can be implemented as a computing system. In thisdisclosure, the term “computing system” means a system that includes atleast one computing device. In some instances, a computing system caninclude one or more other computing systems.

The media system 200 can include various components, such as a VPS 202,a VBS 204, a web server 206, and an end-user device 208, each of whichcan be implemented as a computing system. The media system 200 can alsoinclude a connection mechanism 210, which connects the VPS 202 with theVBS 204; a connection mechanism 212, which connects the VBS 204 with theend-user device 208; a connection mechanism 214, which connects the VPS202 with the web server 206; and a connection mechanism 216, whichconnects the web server 206 with the end-user device 208.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of an example VPS 202. The VPS 202can include various components, such as a video source 302, an end-userdevice 304, an election system 306, a character generator 308, a digitalvideo-effect (DVE) system 310, a scheduling system 312, and a sequencingsystem 314, each of which can be implemented as a computing system. TheVPS 202 can also include a connection mechanism 316, which connects thevideo source 302 with the sequencing system 314; a connection mechanism318, which connects the video source 302 with the DVE system 310; aconnection mechanism 320, which connects the end-user device 304 withthe election system 306; a connection mechanism 322, which connects theelection system 306 with the sequencing system 314; a connectionmechanism 324, which connects the election system 306 with the charactergenerator 308; a connection mechanism 326, which connects the charactergenerator 308 with the sequencing system 314; a connection mechanism328, which connects the character generator 308 with the DVE system 310;a connection mechanism 330, which connects the DVE system 310 with thesequencing system 314; and a connection mechanism 332, which connectsthe scheduling system 312 with the sequencing system 314.

The video source 302 can take various forms, such as a video server, avideo camera, a satellite receiver, a character generator, or a DVEsystem. An example video server is the K2 server provided by GrassValley of San Francisco, Calif.

The character generator 308 can take various forms. An example charactergenerator is the VIZ TRIO provided by Viz Rt of Bergen, Norway. Anotherexample character generator is CASPAR CG developed and distributed bythe Swedish Broadcasting Corporation (SVT).

The DVE system 310 can take various forms, such as a productionswitcher. An example production switcher is the VISION OCTANE productionswitcher provided by Ross Video Ltd. of Iroquois, Ontario in Canada.

The scheduling system 312 can take various forms. An example schedulingsystem is WO TRAFFIC provided by WideOrbit, Inc. of San Francisco,Calif. Another example scheduling system is OSI-TRAFFIC provided byHarris Corporation of Melbourne, Fla.

The sequencing system 314 can take various forms. A sequencing system issometimes referred to in the industry as a “production automationsystem.”

Referring back to FIG. 2, the VBS 204 can include various components,such as a terrestrial antenna or a satellite transmitter, each of whichcan be implemented as a computing system. Additionally, the web server206 can include one or more computing systems for generating, storing,processing, and delivering web pages to end-user devices, such as theend-user device 208.

Each of the video-based entities described in this disclosure caninclude or be integrated with a corresponding audio-based entity. Also,the video content described in this disclosure can include or beintegrated with corresponding audio content.

III. Example Operations

The media system 200 and/or components thereof can perform various actsand/or functions. These features and related features will now bedescribed.

The media system 200 can perform various acts and/or functions relatedto media content. For example, the media system 200 can receive,generate, output, and/or transmit media content that can serve as or bepart of a video program (e.g., a news program). In this disclosure, theact of receiving, generating, outputting, and/or transmitting mediacontent can occur in various ways and/or according to various standards.For example, the act of receiving, outputting, and/or transmitting mediacontent can include receiving, outputting, and/or transmitting a videostream representing video content, such as over Internet Protocol (IP)or in accordance with the high-definition serial digital interface(HD-SDI) standard. Likewise, the act of generating content can includegenerating a video stream representing the video content. Also, the actof receiving, generating, outputting, and/or transmitting video contentcan include receiving, generating, outputting, and/or transmitting anencoded or decoded version of the video content.

The VPS 202 can perform various acts and/or functions related to videocontent production. For example, the VPS 202 can generate and/or outputvideo content, and can transmit the video content to another entity,such as the VBS 204.

Referring back to FIG. 3, within the VPS 202, the video source 302 cangenerate and/or output video content, and can transmit the video contentto another entity, such as the DVE system 310. In practice, the VPS 202is likely to include multiple video sources and corresponding connectionmechanisms, each connecting a respective one of the video sources withthe DVE system 310.

As noted above, the video source 302 can take the form of a videoserver. A video server can record and/or store video content (e.g., inthe form of a file). Further, the video server can retrieve stored videocontent and can use the retrieved video content to generate and/oroutput a video stream representing the video content. This is sometimesreferred to in the industry as the video server playing out the videocontent. The video server can then transmit the video stream, therebytransmitting the video content, to another entity, such as the DVEsystem 310.

The end-user device 304 and the election system 306 can perform variousacts and/or functions related to obtaining, processing, and/oroutputting election data. In this disclosure, the term “election” meansany type of vote-based decision-making process. In one example, anelection can involve a process where voters vote to determine whichcandidate obtains a political office. In another example, an electionmay involve a ballot-initiative process where voters vote to determinewhether or not a proposed law becomes law.

Election data can be provided by various sources, such as from agovernment-operated reporting system, and can take various forms.Election data can indicate various types of information about anelection, such as a title of a political office that is the subject ofthe election, a name and other information of a candidate, an amount ofvotes cast and/or tabulated for a candidate, an amount and anidentification of precincts or other zones reporting tabulated votes,and/or a projection outcome.

The election system 306 can receive election data and can do so invarious ways. For example, the election system can receive election databy obtaining it from another entity, such as the end-user device 304.

The election system 306 can also store, select, and/or retrieve electiondata, perhaps based on input received from a user (e.g., a producer ortechnical director) via a user interface. As such, the election system306 can store obtained election data in a data storage unit (e.g., adata storage unit of the election system 306), and can then receive theelection data by selecting and retrieving it from the data storage unit.The election system 306 can also modify election data and can do so invarious ways.

The election system 306 can also transmit election data to various otherentities, such as the web server 206.

The web server 206 can also receive the election data or other contentin various ways. For example, the web server 206 can receive content byreceiving it from another entity, such as the election system 306. Inanother example, the web server 206 can receive content by selecting andretrieving it from a data storage unit (e.g., a data storage unit of theelection system 306).

The web server 206 can use various scripting techniques (e.g., using PHPor other scripting languages) to generate web pages (e.g., as HypertextMarkup Language (HTML) files and/or various other forms) that includethe received content. For instance, a generated web page can include agraphical depiction of the information represented by the receivedcontent, such as characters and/or graphics that depict electiontallies, ongoing races, results, projected outcomes, etc. Alternativelyor additionally, rather than the web server 206 generating web pages,one or more other entities of the media system 200 can generate webpages and can then transmit the generated web pages to the web server206. For instance, the election system 306 can generate a web pageincluding a graphical depiction of election data and can transmit theweb page to the web server 206.

Further, the web server 206 can provide the web pages to variousentities, such as the end-user device 208. For instance, the web server206 can store the web pages in a database, and the end-user device 208can request a particular web page from the web server 206 according tovarious communication protocols, such as using the Hypertext TransferProtocol (HTTP). The web server 206 can responsively retrieve therequested web page from the database and transmit the retrieved web pageto the end-user device 208, and the end-user device 208 can present theweb page to an end user via a user interface.

In addition to transmitting election data to the web server 206, theelection system 306 can transmit election data to various otherentities, such as the character generator 308.

The character generator 308 can use a character generator template andcontent to generate and/or output video content that includes theelection data. The character generator template specifies the manner inwhich the character generator 308 uses the election data to generateand/or output the video content. The character generator 308 can createand/or modify a character generator template, perhaps based on inputreceived from a user via a user interface. Further, the charactergenerator 308 can store, select, and/or retrieve a character generatortemplate, perhaps based on input received from a user via a userinterface. As such, the character generator 308 can store a charactergenerator template in a data storage unit (e.g., a data storage unit ofthe character generator 308), and can then receive the charactergenerator template by retrieving it from the data storage unit.

The character generator 308 can also receive content in various ways.For example, the character generator 308 can receive content byreceiving it from another entity, such as the election system 306. Inanother example, the character generator 308 can receive content byselecting and retrieving it from a data storage unit (e.g., a datastorage unit of the election system 306).

The character generator template can specify how the character generator308 is to receive content. In one example, the character generatortemplate can do so by specifying that the character generator 308 is toreceive content on a particular input of the character generator 308(e.g., an input that maps to a particular entity, such as the electionsystem 306). In another example, the character generator template can doso by specifying that the character generator 308 is to receive contentby retrieving it from a particular location of a particular data storageunit (e.g., a data storage unit of the character generator 308).

In one example, the character generator 308 can use an ordered set ofcontent items to generate video content that includes the content itemsin the specified order. This type of generated video content issometimes referred to in the industry as a “ticker.” The content itemscan include various types of content, such as text and/or images. In oneexample, each of these content items can be election data. The orderedset of content items can be stored in various forms, such as in the formof an Extensible Markup Language (XML) file.

After the character generator 308 generates and/or outputs videocontent, the character generator 308 can transmit the video content toanother entity, such as the DVE system 310, and/or can store the videocontent in a data storage unit (e.g., a data storage unit of thecharacter generator 308).

As such, in one example, the character generator 308 can receiveelection data, can use the election data to generate and/or output videocontent that includes the election data, and can transmit the videocontent to the DVE system 310.

The DVE system 310 can use a DVE template to generate and/or outputvideo content. This is sometimes referred to in the industry as the DVEsystem “executing a DVE.” In some instances, the DVE system 310 canexecute multiple DVEs in serial or overlapping fashion.

The DVE template specifies the manner in which the DVE system 310generates and/or outputs video content. The DVE system 310 can createand/or modify a DVE template, perhaps based on input received from auser via a user interface. Further, the DVE system 310 can store and/orretrieve a DVE template, perhaps based on input received from a user viaa user interface. As such, the DVE system 310 can store a DVE systemtemplate in a data storage unit (e.g., a data storage unit of the DVEsystem 310), and can then receive the DVE template by selecting andretrieving it from the data storage unit.

In some instances, the DVE system 310 can use the DVE template andcontent to generate and/or output video content that includes thecontent. The DVE system 310 can receive content in various ways. Forexample, the DVE system 310 can receive content from another entity,such as the video source 302 and/or the character generator 308. Inanother example, the DVE system 310 can select and retrieve content froma data storage unit (e.g., a data storage unit of the DVE system 310).

The DVE template can specify how the DVE system 310 is to receivecontent. In one example, the DVE template can specify that the DVEsystem 310 is to receive content on a particular input of the DVE system310 (e.g., an input that maps to a particular entity, such as the videosource 302 or the character generator 308). In another example, the DVEtemplate can specify that the DVE system 310 is to receive content byretrieving it from a particular location of a particular data storageunit (e.g., a data storage unit of the DVE system 310).

A DVE template can be configured in various ways, which can allow theDVE system 310 to execute various types of DVEs. In one example, a DVEtemplate can specify that the DVE system 310 is to receive video contentfrom the video source 302 and other content (e.g., local weathercontent) from a data storage unit of the DVE system, and is to overlaythe other content on the video content, thereby generating a modifiedversion of the video content. As such, in one example, the DVE system310 can generate video content by modifying video content.

FIGS. 4A and 4B help illustrate this concept of overlaying other contenton video content. FIG. 4A is a simplified depiction of an example frame400 of video content. Frame 400 includes content 402, but does notinclude other content overlaid on content 402. For comparison, FIG. 4Bis a simplified depiction of another example frame 450 of video content.Frame 450 includes content 452 and other content 454 overlaid on content452.

In another example, a DVE template can specify that the DVE system 310is to receive first video content from the video source 302 and secondvideo content from the character generator 308, and is to overlay thesecond video content on the first video content, thereby generating amodified version of the first video content.

In another example, a DVE template can specify that the DVE system 310is to receive first video content from the video source 302 and secondvideo content from the character generator 308, and is to scale-down andre-position the first video content and the second video content, eachin a respective one of two windows positioned side-by-side. As such, theDVE system 310 can generate video content by scaling and/orre-positioning video content.

After the DVE system 310 generates and/or outputs the video content, theDVE system 310 can transmit the video content to another entity, such asthe VBS 204, or can store the video content in a data storage unit(e.g., a data storage unit of the DVE system 310).

As such, in one example, the DVE system 310 can receive first videocontent including election data, and can use the first video content togenerate and/or output second video content that includes the electiondata. This is an example way in which the VPS 202 can integrate electiondata into a video program.

The VPS 202 can also integrate election data into a video program inother ways. For example, in the case where the video source 302 is avideo camera, the election system 306 can include a display device thatis located within a field of the view of the video camera while thevideo camera records video content that serves as or is made part of thevideo program. In one example, the display device can be touch-enabled,which can allow a user (e.g., a news anchor) to interact with theelection data. To facilitate the user's interaction with the electiondata, the display device and/or other components of the election system306 can be programmed with instructions that cause particular actions tobe performed in response to particular touch commands.

The scheduling system 312 can perform various acts and/or functionsrelated to the scheduling of video content production. For example, thescheduling system 312 can create and/or modify a program schedule of avideo program, perhaps based on input received from a user via a userinterface. Further, the scheduling system 312 can store and/or retrievea program schedule, perhaps based on input received from a user via auser interface. As such, the scheduling system 312 can store a programschedule in a data storage unit (e.g., a data storage unit of thescheduling system 312), and can then receive the program schedule byselecting and retrieving it from the data storage unit. The schedulingsystem 312 can also transmit a program schedule to another entity, suchas the sequencing system 314.

The sequencing system 314 can process records in the program schedule.This can cause the sequencing system 314 to control one or more othercomponents of the VPS 202 to facilitate the VPS 202 generating and/oroutputting video content, which can serve as or be part of a videoprogram. For example, the sequencing system 314 can control the videosource 302, the election system 306, the character generator 308, and/orthe DVE system 310 to perform the various acts and/or functionsdescribed in this disclosure.

The sequencing system 314 can receive a program schedule in variousways. For example, the sequencing system 314 can do so by receiving itfrom another entity, such as the scheduling system 312. In anotherexample, the sequencing system 314 can do so by selecting and retrievingit from a data storage unit (e.g., a data storage unit of the schedulingsystem 312).

A program schedule (sometimes referred to in the industry as a“rundown”) serves as a schedule or outline of a video program and caninclude multiple records. A video program can be conceptually dividedinto multiple logically-separated portions (sometimes referred to in theindustry as “stories”). As such, each portion of the video program canbe represented by a separate record of the program schedule. In somecases, each record can also include one or more sub-records. Each record(including a sub-record) can include various types of data.

FIG. 5 is a simplified diagram of an example program schedule 500. Theprogram schedule 500 includes ten records represented as ten orderedrows. Each record corresponds to a respective portion of a videoprogram, except for one which corresponds to a commercial break. Foreach portion, the respective record specifies at least one data itemthat corresponds to that portion of the video program. In particular,each record specifies at least one of a story title, a video contentitem identifier, a duration, and a DVE identifier (which can serve as aninstruction to execute the identified DVE).

A video content item can consist of logically-related video content. Forexample, a video content item can be a commercial. As another example, avideo content item can be a portion of a television program that isscheduled between two commercial breaks. This is sometimes referred toin the industry as a “program segment.”

As shown in FIG. 5, the first record specifies a story title of STORY A,a video content identifier of VCI ID A, a duration of 00:02:00:00 (inhours::minutes::seconds::frames format), and a DVE identifier of DVE IDA. As such, upon the sequencing system 314 processing the first record,the sequencing system 314 can cause the video source 302 to playout avideo content item identified by the identifier VCI ID A for twominutes, and can further cause the DVE system 310 to execute a DVEidentified by the identifier DVE ID A, which for example, can cause theDVE system 310 to overlay content on the identified video-content item.

The program schedule 500 has been greatly simplified for the purposes ofillustrating certain features. In practice, a program schedule is likelyto include significantly more data.

In some instances, the sequencing system 314 can process a next recordin the program schedule based on a trigger event. In one example, thetrigger event can be the sequencing system 314 completing one or moreactions related to a current record in the program schedule. In anotherexample, the trigger event can be the sequencing system 314 receivinginput from a user via a user interface.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the VBS 204 can receive video content from theVPS 202, which in turn can transmit the video content to the end-userdevice 208 for presentation of the video content to an end user. Inpractice, the VBS 204 can transmit video content to a large number ofend-user devices for presentation of the video content to a large numberof end users. The VBS 204 can transmit video content to the end-userdevice 208 in various ways. For example, VBS 204 can transmit videocontent to the end-user device 208 over-the-air or via a packet-basednetwork such as the Internet. The end-user device 208 can receive videocontent from the VBS 204, and can present the video content to an enduser via a user interface.

FIG. 6 is a simplified diagram of example content data 600 that can beprovided to a DVE system or a character generator. For example, electionsystem 306, or some other system of the VPS 202, can provide the contentdata 600 to various media-generation systems, and the media-generationsystems can then generate various media content based on the contentdata 600. For instance, the election system 306 can provide the contentdata 600 to the character generator 308 and to the web server 206. Thecharacter generator 308 can then generate video content based on thecontent data 600, and the web server 206 can generate web content basedon the content data 600. The content data 600 can take various forms,such as the form of an XML file.

As shown, the example content data 600 includes ten ordered contentitems, each corresponding to respective data that may or may not beincluded in media content generated by the character generator 308 orthe web server 206. For example, the character generator 308 and the webserver 206 can generate media content that includes some or all of thecontent items. In some instances, the generated media content caninclude the content items in the sequential order in which they arearranged in the content data 600. For instance, the character generator308 can generate various forms of video content, such as a scrollingticker, a list, a table, or some other video content that presents thecontent items in their sequential order.

The character generator 308 and the web server 206 can be configured togenerate media content that includes all of the content items of thecontent data 600. In one example, the web server 206 can generate a webpage that displays content items A through J in a table or some othergraphical form while the character generator 308 can generate a tickerthat first presents content item A, followed by content item B, and soon. With such an arrangement, once the generated ticker presents contentitem J, the ticker can repeat the sequence starting with content item Aagain. In order to remove a particular content item from the generatedvideo content and web content, that particular content item can beremoved from the content data 600 (e.g., by removing a row from the XMLfile). Similarly, in order to add a particular content item to thegenerated video content and web content, that particular content itemcan be added to the content data 600 (e.g., by adding a row to the XMLfile).

However, while adding or removing content items to and from the contentdata 600 might be sufficient for modifying the generated web content,adding or removing content items to and from the content data 600 canhave undesirable consequences for the character generator 308. Inparticular, making such additions or removals could cause the charactergenerator 308 to restart generation of the ticker starting with contentitem A. This may be problematic if the content data 600 is altered(e.g., by adding or removing a content item) while the generated tickerpresents some intermediate content item between content items A and J.For example, if the character generator 308 generates a ticker thatsequentially presents content items A through J, and a content item isadded to or removed from the content data 600 while the ticker presentscontent item D, the character generator 308 will restart generation ofthe video content such that the ticker restarts the sequentialpresentation with content item A before content items E through J havebeen presented.

In order to modify which content items are included or excluded from thegenerated media content without adding or removing content items fromthe content data 600, the content data 600 can include a set ofactive/inactive status attributes, as further shown in FIG. 6. Each ofthe content items corresponds with a respective active/inactive statusattribute, and various media-generation systems, such as the charactergenerator 308 and the web server 206, can be configured to include orexclude a content item from generated media content based on therespective active/inactive status attribute of each content item. Forexample, the character generator 308 can generate video content thatincludes content items corresponding to an “active” status attribute andexcludes content items corresponding to an “inactive” status attribute.Similarly, the web server 206 can concurrently generate web content thatincludes content items corresponding to an “active” status attribute andexcludes content items corresponding to an “inactive” status attribute.As shown, the character generator 308 and the web server 206 canconcurrently generate media content that includes content items A, B, C,E, G, and H and excludes content items D, F, I, and J.

FIGS. 7A and 7B help illustrate this concept of concurrently generatingdifferent media items based on the content data 600. FIG. 7A is asimplified depiction of an example frame 700 of video content generatedby the character generator 308 and associated DVE systems. Frame 700includes first content 704 with generated video content 706 overlaid onthe first content 704, where the generated video content 706 includesonly content items corresponding to an “active” status attribute—namely,content items A, B, C, E, G, and H. As shown, the generated videocontent 706 is depicted as a scrolling ticker overlaid on a bottomportion of the first content 704, but the generated video content 706can take other forms, sizes, and positions as well, such as a fullscreen table graphic, for instance. FIG. 7B is a simplified depiction ofan example web page 750 generated by the web server 206 as might beviewed through a user interface of the end-user device 208. Web page 750includes web content 752, where the web content 752 also includes onlycontent items corresponding to an “active” status attribute—namely,content items A, B, C, E, G, and H. As shown, the web content 752displays the content items in an ordered table, but the web content 752can display the content items in other forms as well.

In this manner, a particular content item can be concurrently added toor removed from multiple different media items by modifying the statusattribute corresponding to the particular content item. For example,changing the status attribute of content item A from “active” to“inactive” would cause the character generator 308 to exclude contentitem A from the generated video content and would cause the web server206 to exclude content item A from the generated web content. Similarly,changing the status attribute of content item D from “inactive” to“active” would cause the character generator 308 to include content itemD in the generated video content and would cause the web server 206 toinclude content item D in the generated web content.

Further, because the modification of a particular content item's statusattribute does not involve adding or removing a content item from thecontent data 600, such a modification would not cause the charactergenerator 308 to restart the generated video content at the beginning ofthe sequential order of content items.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example method 800. At block 802,the method 800 can include accessing, by a computing system, a first setof ordered content items and a second set of active/inactive statusattributes, wherein each content item of the first set corresponds to arespective active/inactive status attribute of the second set.

Each content item of the first set can include respective dataassociated with an election. For instance, as noted above, the electionsystem 306 can receive, select, and/or retrieve election data, such as atitle of a political office that is the subject of the election, a nameand other information of a candidate, an amount of votes cast and/ortabulated for a candidate, an amount and an identification of precinctsor other zones reporting tabulated votes, and/or a projection outcome.The election system 306 can store the election data and/or associateddata in a data storage unit as the first set of content items, and eachcontent item of the first set can be associated with a respectiveactive/inactive status attribute. As discussed above with respect toFIG. 6, these content items and status attributes can be stored invarious forms, such as in the form of an XML file.

The content items and their corresponding active/inactive statusattributes can also be transmitted to the character generator 308 and tothe web server 206. The character generator template can specify thatthe character generator 308 is to receive the content items and theirstatus attributes from the election system 306 or that the charactergenerator 308 is to retrieve the content items and their statusattributes from a data storage unit of the election system 306.Similarly, the web server 206 can be configured to receive the contentitems and their status attributes from the election system 306 or toretrieve the content items and their status attributes from a datastorage unit of the election system 306.

At block 804, the method 800 can include identifying, by the computingsystem, a subset of the first set based on each content item of thesubset corresponding to an active status attribute in the second set.Any or all of the election system 306, the character generator 308, andthe web server 206, for instance, can determine for each content item ofthe first set, whether its corresponding active/inactive statusattribute of the second set is indicative of an active status.

At block 806, the method 800 can include using, by the computing system,the content items of the identified subset to generate a plurality ofmedia items, wherein each generated media item of the plurality of mediaitems (i) includes the content items of the identified subset and (ii)is a respective one of a plurality of types of media items. As such,each generated media item of the generated plurality of media items caninclude content items associated with a respective active statusattribute and exclude content items associated with a respectiveinactive status attribute. The plurality of types of media items caninclude, for instance, video content, such as video content thatpresents the content items of the identified subset in a scrolling,rotating, full screen, or other overlay fashion. The plurality of typesof media items can further include web content, such as a web page thatpresents the content items of the identified subset in various graphicalmanners. Other examples of types of media items are possible as well.

In line with the discussion above, the character generator 308 can usethe content items of the identified subset (i.e., content itemsassociated with an active status attribute) to generate video contentthat includes the content items, such as in the form of a ticker thatpresents the content items in their specified order. As such, thegenerated video content can present the content items of the identifiedsubset in a scrolling or rotating fashion. For example, where thecontent items include data associated with an election, the generatedvideo content can include a ticker that presents a scrolling or rotatingdisplay of various candidate names and their respective vote counts orvote count percentages. Other examples are possible as well.

At block 808, the method 800 can include making, by the computingsystem, a determination that either a particular content item of thefirst set or data associated with the particular content item satisfieseach condition in a condition set, wherein the particular content itemcorresponds to a particular active/inactive status attribute of thesecond set. And at block 810, the method 800 can include based, at leastin part, on the determination, modifying, by the computing system, theparticular active/inactive status attribute.

This modifying of the active/inactive status attribute can beadvantageous in examples where the content items of the first setinclude data associated with an election, as it can be desirable todynamically control whether certain election data is included in thegenerated video content as an election progresses. For instance, it canbe desirable to include or exclude certain election data from thegenerated video content based on a current total vote count for aparticular candidate or issue, an expected outcome of an election, voterturnout, viewer interest in a particular candidate or issue, and/orwhether a candidate has dropped out of the election, among otherfactors.

Accordingly, in a first example, the condition set can include a firstcondition that less than a threshold amount of votes cast in connectionwith a vote count have been tabulated. In some instances, if thiscondition is satisfied, this may indicate that an insignificant numberof votes have been tabulated.

In a second example, the condition set can include a second conditionthat a difference between an amount of votes tabulated for a firstcandidate of the election and an amount of votes tabulated for a secondcandidate of the election is at least a threshold amount. In someinstances, if this condition is satisfied, this may indicate that theelection is significantly lopsided.

In a third example, the condition set can include a third condition thata first projected outcome of the election and a second projected outcomeof the election differ by at least a threshold extent, wherein the firstprojected outcome of the election is determined before the secondprojected outcome of the election is determined. In some instances, ifthis condition is satisfied, this may indicate that an earlierprojection of the outcome of the election was significantly inaccurate.

In a fourth example, the condition set can include a fourth conditionthat a candidate associated with the particular content item is nolonger associated with a race of the election. In some instances, ifthis condition is satisfied, this may indicate that a candidate hasdropped out of the election.

In a fifth example, the condition set can include a fifth condition thatvoter turnout associated with the vote count is less than a thresholdamount. In one example, election system 306 can determine a voterturnout amount by comparing an amount of voters registered in a givengeographic area (e.g., covering one or more precincts associated withthe election) with a corresponding amount of votes tabulated. In someinstances, if this condition is satisfied, this may indicate that theelection has significantly low voter turnout.

In a sixth example, the condition set can include a sixth condition thatthe vote count is associated with a particular race of the election. Insome instances, if this condition is satisfied, this may indicate that aparticular content item is associated with a particular election race,such as a presidential, congressional, or gubernatorial race, to name afew.

In a seventh example, the condition set can include a seventh conditionthat the vote count is associated with a particular candidate of theelection. In some instances, if this condition is satisfied, this mayindicate that a particular content item is associated with a particularcandidate.

In an eighth example, the condition set can include an eighth conditionthat the vote count is associated with a particular location. In someinstances, if this condition is satisfied, this may indicate that aparticular content item is associated with a particular location, suchas a state, county, or precinct, to name a few. Other examples arepossible as well.

Based at least in part on the determination, while the video content isbeing generated by the character generator 308, the election system 306can modify the particular active/inactive status attribute of theparticular content item. As such, the particular active/inactive statusattribute can be modified in various circumstances. For example, theparticular active/inactive status attribute can be modified from“active” to “inactive” (or from “inactive” to “active”) if a vote countassociated with the content item is significantly low, if the electionassociated with the content item is significantly lopsided, if aprojection of the election associated with the content item issignificantly inaccurate, if a candidate associated with the contentitem has dropped out of the election, or if the voter turnout of therace associated with the content item is significantly low. Further, theparticular active/inactive status attribute can be modified if thecontent item is associated with a particular race, candidate, orlocation. Other examples are possible as well.

At block 812, the method 800 can include, after modifying the particularactive/inactive status attribute, repeating, by the computing system,the identifying and using acts, thereby causing modification of thegenerated plurality of media items. As described above with respect toblocks 804 and 806, the character generator 308 can generate videocontent that includes content items associated with active statusattributes and excludes content items associated with inactive statusattributes. Similarly, the web server 206 and/or the election system 306can generate web content that includes content items associated withactive status attributes and excludes content items associated withinactive status attributes. As such, modifying the particularactive/inactive status attribute of the particular content item cancause the particular content item to be concurrently included in orexcluded from a plurality of different media items generated by themedia system 200.

IV. Example Variations

Although some of the acts and/or functions described in this disclosurehave been described as being performed by a particular entity, the actsand/or functions can be performed by any entity, such as those entitiesdescribed in this disclosure. Further, although the acts and/orfunctions have been recited in a particular order, the acts and/orfunctions need not be performed in the order recited. However, in someinstances, it can be desired to perform the acts and/or functions in theorder recited. Further, each of the acts and/or functions can beperformed responsive to one or more of the other acts and/or functions.Also, not all of the acts and/or functions need to be performed toachieve one or more of the benefits provided by this disclosure, andtherefore not all of the acts and/or functions are required.

Although certain variations have been discussed in connection with oneor more example of this disclosure, these variations can also be appliedto all of the other examples of this disclosure as well.

Although select examples of this disclosure have been described,alterations and permutations of these examples will be apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art. Other changes, substitutions, and/oralterations are also possible without departing from the invention inits broader aspects as set forth in the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: accessing, by acomputing system, a first set of content items and a second set ofactive/inactive status attributes, wherein each content item of thefirst set corresponds to a respective active/inactive status attributeof the second set, and wherein each content item of the first setcomprises respective data associated with an election; identifying, bythe computing system, a subset of the first set based on each contentitem of the subset corresponding to an active status attribute in thesecond set; using, by the computing system, the content items of theidentified subset to generate a plurality of media items, wherein eachgenerated media item of the plurality of media items (i) includes thecontent items of the identified subset and (ii) is a respective one of aplurality of types of media items; making, by the computing system, adetermination that either a particular content item of the first set ordata associated with the particular content item satisfies eachcondition in a condition set, wherein the particular content itemcorresponds to a particular active/inactive status attribute of thesecond set, and wherein the condition set comprises at least onecondition from the group consisting of: a first condition that less thana threshold amount of votes cast in connection with a vote count havebeen tabulated, a second condition that a difference between an amountof votes tabulated for a first candidate of the election and an amountof votes tabulated for a second candidate of the election is at least athreshold amount, a third condition that a first projected outcome ofthe election and a second projected outcome of the election differ by atleast a threshold extent, wherein the first projected outcome of theelection is determined before the second projected outcome of theelection is determined, a fourth condition that a candidate associatedwith the particular content item is no longer associated with a race ofthe election, a fifth condition that voter turnout associated with thevote count is less than a threshold amount, a sixth condition that thevote count is associated with a particular race of the election, aseventh condition that the vote count is associated with a particularcandidate of the election, and an eighth condition that the vote countis associated with a particular location; based, at least in part, onthe determination, modifying the particular active/inactive statusattribute; and after modifying the particular active/inactive statusattribute, repeating, by the computing system, the identifying and usingsteps, thereby causing modification of the generated plurality of mediaitems.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of mediaitems comprises a video stream representing video content, wherein oneor more of the generated media items is a video stream representingvideo content, and wherein the video content presents the content itemsof the identified subset.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the firstset of content items is a first set of ordered content items, wherein acharacter generator uses the content items of the identified subset togenerate the video stream representing video content, and wherein thevideo content presents the content items of the identified subset in ascrolling or rotating fashion as ordered in the first set.
 4. The methodof claim 2, wherein the video content presents the content items of theidentified subset in a full screen fashion.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the plurality of types of media items comprises a webpage, andwherein one or more of the generated media items is a webpage forpresenting the content items of the identified subset.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein one or more of the generated media items is a firsttype of media item, and wherein one or more of the generated media itemsis a second type of media item different from the first type.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein modifying the particular active/inactivestatus attribute comprises changing the particular active/inactivestatus attribute from an inactive status attribute to an active statusattribute, and wherein causing modification of the generated pluralityof media items comprises including the particular content item in thegenerated plurality of media items.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereinmodifying the particular active/inactive status attribute compriseschanging the particular active/inactive status attribute from an activestatus attribute to an inactive status attribute, and wherein causingmodification of the generated plurality of media items comprisesexcluding the particular content item from the generated plurality ofmedia items.
 9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having storedthereon, program instructions that when executed by a processor, causeperformance of a set of acts comprising: accessing, by a computingsystem, a first set of content items and a second set of active/inactivestatus attributes, wherein each content item of the first setcorresponds to a respective active/inactive status attribute of thesecond set, and wherein each content item of the first set comprisesrespective data associated with an election; identifying, by thecomputing system, a subset of the first set based on each content itemof the subset corresponding to an active status attribute in the secondset; using, by the computing system, the content items of the identifiedsubset to generate a plurality of media items, wherein each generatedmedia item of the plurality of media items (i) includes the contentitems of the identified subset and (ii) is a respective one of aplurality of types of media items; making, by the computing system, adetermination that either a particular content item of the first set ordata associated with the particular content item satisfies eachcondition in a condition set, wherein the particular content itemcorresponds to a particular active/inactive status attribute of thesecond set, and wherein the condition set comprises at least onecondition from the group consisting of: a first condition that less thana threshold amount of votes cast in connection with a vote count havebeen tabulated, a second condition that a difference between an amountof votes tabulated for a first candidate of the election and an amountof votes tabulated for a second candidate of the election is at least athreshold amount, a third condition that a first projected outcome ofthe election and a second projected outcome of the election differ by atleast a threshold extent, wherein the first projected outcome of theelection is determined before the second projected outcome of theelection is determined, a fourth condition that a candidate associatedwith the particular content item is no longer associated with a race ofthe election, a fifth condition that voter turnout associated with thevote count is less than a threshold amount, a sixth condition that thevote count is associated with a particular race of the election, aseventh condition that the vote count is associated with a particularcandidate of the election, and an eighth condition that the vote countis associated with a particular location; based, at least in part, onthe determination, modifying the particular active/inactive statusattribute; and after modifying the particular active/inactive statusattribute, repeating, by the computing system, the identifying and usingsteps, thereby causing modification of the generated plurality of mediaitems.
 10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein theplurality of types of media items comprises a video stream representingvideo content, wherein one or more of the generated media items is avideo stream representing video content, and wherein the video contentpresents the content items of the identified subset.
 11. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the first set of contentitems is a first set of ordered content items, wherein a charactergenerator uses the content items of the identified subset to generatethe video stream representing video content, and wherein the videocontent presents the content items of the identified subset in ascrolling or rotating fashion as ordered in the first set.
 12. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the plurality of types ofmedia items comprises a webpage, and wherein one or more of thegenerated media items is a webpage for presenting the content items ofthe identified subset.
 13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9,wherein modifying the particular active/inactive status attributecomprises changing the particular active/inactive status attribute froman inactive status attribute to an active status attribute, and whereincausing modification of the generated plurality of media items comprisesincluding the particular content item in the generated plurality ofmedia items.
 14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, whereinmodifying the particular active/inactive status attribute compriseschanging the particular active/inactive status attribute from an activestatus attribute to an inactive status attribute, and wherein causingmodification of the generated plurality of media items comprisesexcluding the particular content item from the generated plurality ofmedia items.
 15. A computing system comprising: one or more processors;and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereonprogram instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors,cause performance of a set of acts comprising: accessing, by thecomputing system, a first set of content items and a second set ofactive/inactive status attributes, wherein each content item of thefirst set corresponds to a respective active/inactive status attributeof the second set, and wherein each content item of the first setcomprises respective data associated with an election; identifying, bythe computing system, a subset of the first set based on each contentitem of the subset corresponding to an active status attribute in thesecond set; using, by the computing system, the content items of theidentified subset to generate a plurality of media items, wherein eachgenerated media item of the plurality of media items (i) includes thecontent items of the identified subset and (ii) is a respective one of aplurality of types of media items; making, by the computing system, adetermination that either a particular content item of the first set ordata associated with the particular content item satisfies eachcondition in a condition set, wherein the particular content itemcorresponds to a particular active/inactive status attribute of thesecond set, and wherein the condition set comprises at least onecondition from the group consisting of: a first condition that less thana threshold amount of votes cast in connection with a vote count havebeen tabulated, a second condition that a difference between an amountof votes tabulated for a first candidate of the election and an amountof votes tabulated for a second candidate of the election is at least athreshold amount, a third condition that a first projected outcome ofthe election and a second projected outcome of the election differ by atleast a threshold extent, wherein the first projected outcome of theelection is determined before the second projected outcome of theelection is determined, a fourth condition that a candidate associatedwith the particular content item is no longer associated with a race ofthe election, a fifth condition that voter turnout associated with thevote count is less than a threshold amount, a sixth condition that thevote count is associated with a particular race of the election, aseventh condition that the vote count is associated with a particularcandidate of the election, and an eighth condition that the vote countis associated with a particular location; based, at least in part, onthe determination, modifying the particular active/inactive statusattribute; and after modifying the particular active/inactive statusattribute, repeating, by the computing system, the identifying and usingsteps, thereby causing modification of the generated plurality of mediaitems.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of types ofmedia items comprises a video stream representing video content, whereinone or more of the generated media items is a video stream representingvideo content, and wherein the video content presents the content itemsof the identified subset.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the firstset of content items is a first set of ordered content items, wherein acharacter generator uses the content items of the identified subset togenerate the video stream representing video content, and wherein thevideo content presents the content items of the identified subset in ascrolling or rotating fashion as ordered in the first set.
 18. Thesystem of claim 15, wherein the plurality of types of media itemscomprises a webpage, and wherein one or more of the generated mediaitems is a webpage for presenting the content items of the identifiedsubset.
 19. The computing system of claim 15, wherein modifying theparticular active/inactive status attribute comprises changing theparticular active/inactive status attribute from an inactive statusattribute to an active status attribute, and wherein causingmodification of the generated plurality of media items comprisesincluding the particular content item in the generated plurality ofmedia items.
 20. The computing system of claim 15, wherein modifying theparticular active/inactive status attribute comprises changing theparticular active/inactive status attribute from an active statusattribute to an inactive status attribute, and wherein causingmodification of the generated plurality of media items comprisesexcluding the particular content item from the generated plurality ofmedia items.